Why Does Substance Abuse Tend To Be on the Rise During the Holidays?  

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Why Does Substance Abuse Tend To Be on the Rise During the Holidays?  

It can’t be denied: holidays are a time to celebrate with friends and family, and oftentimes, that includes the use of alcohol. A few cocktails here and there might not be a big problem, but if you find that you need to have alcohol during the holidays in order to have a good time, then you might have a drinking problem. What are some of the reasons drinking is more prevalent during the holidays? 

The Nature Of Holiday Events  

The holiday seasons tend to see more admissions to any drug rehab center, and for a good reason. Holiday events are all about entertaining, social obligations, and the demand to keep everyone around you happy. Alcohol tends to cover all of those aspects. This is further increased by the different social events people attend during the holidays: at work with coworkers, at home with family, and out in the town with friends. Even if alcohol isn’t served at these events, the stress of having to attend all of these functions and meet every obligation can lead to a person to start self-medicating with drugs or alcohol.  

Stressful Family Dynamics  

Some people’s family dynamics can be triggering for some people, and that’s made even worse during the holidays when there’s the obligation to spend time with family. The anticipation of encountering these situations can cause a person to panic and suffer from anxiety leading up to these events. They might turn to alcohol so that they can better deal with these situations and avoid the stress that comes with them.  

The Commercial Aspect Of The Holidays  

Finding the perfect gift, staying within budget, and the general atmosphere of stores during the holiday season can be stressful in and of itself. That steady climb of the credit card balance throughout the months is enough to make anyone start drinking. Financial troubles is often one of the top reasons for people to start drinking or relapse after attending a treatment center. The best way to combat this is to develop healthy spending limits so that you’re not only saving money, but also eliminating triggers that might cause you to start drinking.  

Isolation  

After being a lot of people during the holidays, the return to living alone can be a stark transition that not a lot of people are equipped to handle. They turn to alcohol to get rid of the feelings of isolation, but this can further compound the problem, since those feelings are still there when they sober up.  

Don’t let the holidays be in charge of your sobriety. If you notice that you’ve been struggling to stay on the straight and narrow during the holiday season, it would be a good idea to speak to someone, develop healthy habits, and have a support system in place to help you get through these difficult times. Establish boundaries with those around you to refrain from drinking alcohol around you so that you don’t have the opportunity to relapse. Remain in control of your sobriety by exerting control.